Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards Support

Inspired by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)1, the reference points that are bolded below can enhance your efforts to infuse Social and Emotional Learning into your instruction.

Increase Self-Awareness with resources that prompt reflection on emotions and offer diverse representation so readers can see themselves in books and authors.

  • Support the integration of personal and social identities by identifying titles that reflect the diversity of students with the Diverse Books Toolkit.

  • Help students recognize personal, cultural, and linguistic assets with this audiobook excerpt from Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look.

  • Identify and consider emotions with this complete video book reading from PBS Kids for Yesterday I Had the Blues.

  • Facilitate conversations on prejudice and bias with this Meet-the-Author Recording for Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams.

  • Promote self-efficacy with this activity sheet for You Matter by Christian Robinson.

Build on Self-Management foundations with conversation starters from authors and illustrators on emotions — defining them, being aware of them, and learning what to do with them.

  • Discuss stress and anxiety with tools to help manage feelings after listening to this audiobook excerpt for Frazzled: Everyday Disasters and Impending Doom by Booki Vivat.

  • Discover self-discipline examples from authors like Tomi Adeyemi and Sabaa Tahir in this author interview on their writing process.

  • Find ideas to keep yourself motivated and organized from Jack Gantos in this Meet-the-Author Movie.

Enhance Social Awareness with a wealth of resources for diverse books.

  • Practice taking others’ perspectives with this Audio Name Pronunciation from Thi Bui sharing what it feels like to have to adjust your name after immigration.

  • Discuss what it means to recognize strengths in others with this Meet-the-Author Recording for Clementine by Sara Pennypacker.

  • Foster empathy and compassion for the feelings of others with this Meet-the-Author Recording from Hena Khan on Amina’s Voice.

  • Reflect on diverse social norms and the importance of hearing the unique stories of others with this Meet-the-Author Recording for How Dare the Sun Rise by Sandra Uwiringiyimana.

Foster Relationship Skills with discussion guides and author insights that offer ideas for interacting with others — individually, in small groups, with community, and beyond.

  • Consider the different ways we can communicate effectively with this Meet-the-Author Recording for Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly.

  • Reflect on the fundamentals and diversity of positive relationships with this video book trailer for Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson.

  • Inspire teamwork as a collaboration of individual strengths with this Meet-the-Author Recording from Rafael Lopéz on Just Ask.

  • Discuss resisting negative social pressure after listening to this Meet-the-Author Recording for One by Kathryn Otoshi. Then, practice resolving conflicts constructively with this activity guide for Draw the Line.

Inspire Responsible Decision-Making with resources that model evaluation and analysis, and reflections from authors and illustrators on their own decisions.

  • Discuss how identifying our emotions and where they come from can help us make good decisions with this Meet-the-Author Recording for I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde.

  • Practice critical thinking and analyzing to reach a reasoned judgement with this teacher's guide for A Bike Like Sergio’s by Maribeth Boelts and Noah Z. Jones.

  • Model how to evaluate the consequences of one’s actions with this video reading for “Forgiveness” from Can I Touch Your Hair by Charles Waters.

  • Evaluate the impact our actions can have as they ripple away from us with this Meet-the-Author Recording for The Night Gardener by Eric and Terry Fan.

1. Referenced from "Core SEL Standards" The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), https://casel.org/core-competencies/.